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ESL Teaching Placement - Teaching English in Korea
American TESOL Institute assists TESOL certified teachers
with placements in schools located around South Korea. The schools in
which TESOL trained teachers can be placed range from the remotely
located rural ones to the sprawling campuses of the urban private
schools.
Duration of Teaching English in Korea
The placement would be for one year.
FLIGHT FARE
The employer will reimburse up to USD 1000 of the fare the teacher paid
for the flight to Korea via Thailand. This reimbursement will be done
within a month upon teaching at the school the teacher is placed in.
Teachers should avail flights departing from their home countries to
Incheon International Airport in Korea via Bangkok.
At the end of the contract, the teacher will be provided a one-way trip
to the airport of return to either the home country or another country
of shorter distance as long as the trip is undertaken within the first
10 days of termination of employment.
SCHOOLS
The employee shall work at one of the elementary, middle, or high
schools as appointed by the employer.
Upon completion of the first year, the employee can request to be
transferred to another school or region, subject to approval by
Employer. This is not considered as a renewal of the employment
contract.
The employee shall work eight hours a day from Monday to Friday,
including lunch hour. The employee shall not work on Saturdays and
Sundays and on Korean national holidays. The working hours will largely
follow the Korean Civil Service norms unless adjusted by the school
principal as she/he deems necessary. Schools normally function from 8am
till about 4.30pm or 9 am to 5 pm (depends on the school).
The regular teaching hours shall not exceed twenty-two hours per week.
The schools shall not ask teachers to work more than 6 hours outside of
regular teaching hours without the teachers’ approval. The teacher’s
regular teaching hours shall not exceed twenty-two hours per week.
The teacher shall be paid for the extra teaching hours at the rate of
20,000 won an hour. The teacher can alternatively use extra hours worked
to compensate for a day off during the week provided 8 hours of extra
teaching have been put in.
The teacher may be called upon to participate in special programmes or
English day camps for up to 20 hours a week during the school holidays.
Salary shall be paid on the 25th of every month. If this day is national
holiday or a weekend, the salary shall be paid on the next business day.
Foreigners, except for Canadians are exempted from the income tax of 2
years, for the first 2 years of employment in Korea. The national
pension contribution which is about 9% (employer pays half) is
refundable at the end of the contract period for US and Canadian
citizens. The national health scheme, about 5% (employer pays half)
shall be deducted from the teacher’s monthly salary.
The pay scale is as follows; category one for 2.3 million KRW; category
two for 2.1 million. KRW; category three for 2 million KRW
If the teacher has not worked for a full month, he/she shall be paid on
a pro-rated basis for that month.
If a teacher is absent from work without prior approval, his/her salary,
based on a pro rata daily basis and the number of unauthorised absent
days, will be deducted for that month.
In view of the teacher’s continuous employment for one year, he/she is
entitled to an additional 30 days’ average pay as termination salary for
the continuous employment of one year.
The teacher shall not claim any compensation not provided in the
contract from the school.
Teachers employed under category 1, who have had their contracts renewed
for a second term or subsequent terms at the same school may be eligible
for a salary increment up to the maximum GEPIK limit of 2,500,000 won by
100,000 won per year respectively. This is decided by the school and
will depend on the teachers’ performance.
If a teacher obtains higher qualifications such as a Masters degree or
TESOL certificate (with over 100 course-hours) during the period of the
contract, where applicable, he/she is eligible to be promoted to a
higher employment category (with corresponding increase in salary) the
month following the date of course completion. However, such promotions
shall be limited to one pay category increase per year. (i.e. Category 3
to 2, or Category 2 to 1; not Category 3 to 1).
The contract may be renewed with a mutual written agreement between the
school and the teacher. The renewed employment should be for one year.
A written notification indicating renewal or termination of employment
shall be provided two months prior to the expiration of contract.
In the event of a renewal of the contract, teachers shall be entitled to
an additional of fourteen days (Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays
inclusive) leave, on top and above of the existing 14 days’ yearly paid
leave. Such leave should only be taken during the school vacations so
that it does not conflict with school schedules.
Teachers, whose contracts have been renewed, shall receive reimbursement
for a round trip airfare based on economy class rates and on the most
direct flights available from Incheon to the airport nearest to the
teachers’ residences. This shall be received within 2 weeks upon return
to Korea.
If a teacher does not travel to either his/her home country or another
country other than the home country, he/she shall be given the amount of
money equivalent to a round-trip ticket within 2 weeks of renewal of the
contract.
If a teacher completes the employment term without the intention of
renewing it and leaves Korea within 10 days from the expiration date,
the employer shall purchase the air ticket for the teacher’s one way
return to the home country either via direct purchase or reimbursement.
Teachers shall be provided with accommodation and all efforts would be
made to provide an apartment within walking distance to the school or
with proximity to transportation.
Complying with the National Health Insurance Act of Korea, teachers
shall be covered by medical insurance. Under this Act, all government
employees are liable for 50% of medical cost. Teachers’ dependents
living with them in Korea shall also be covered by medical insurance.
Teachers placed in schools in rural areas shall be entitled to a paid
allowance of 100,000 Korean won each month along with additional 5
working days of paid leave during the contract term.
Teachers shall be entitled to paid leave for a total of fourteen working
days during the term of the employment. Weekends and Korean national
holidays are excluded from this. Should a teacher renew his/her
contract, a maximum of 7 days of unused yearly paid leave may be rolled
over to the new contract period. However, the leave that has been rolled
over cannot be rolled over into any subsequent contract periods. Female
teachers shall be entitled to 60 days of paid maternity leave.
Teachers shall be entitled to paid sick leave if an illness or injury
prevents him/her from performing the duties under this contract,
provided, however, that he/she obtains the employer’s prior approval.
Teachers shall be entitled to Special Leave for a number of days as
follows:
Seven consecutive calendar days for teacher’s marriage;
Seven consecutive calendar days for the death of teacher’s parents or spouse;
Five consecutive calendar days for the death of teacher’s child.
Teachers should carry out their duties and responsibilities
accurately as defined in the contract. The principal of the respective
schools shall evaluate the teachers’ performance of official duties
during the course of employment. As representatives of the Korean
teaching fraternity, teachers should ensure they uphold the positive
reputation of the profession by conforming to norms expected of teachers
by the Korean society.
Teachers shall not engage in outside paid employment of any nature with
the prior permission of the school principal.
The terms of this contract and the rights and obligation of the parties
hereto shall be construed, interpreted and determined in accordance with
the laws of the Republic of Korea.
Testimonials
This
project fulfilled many of my passions, the most prevalent being
travel in different cultures and teaching. It is an opportunity that
I find inspiring and wanted to take advantage of it.
